Mesopatamia

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Transcript of Mesopatamia

City-StatesThe first cities were like small, independent countries. The cities each had their own rulers and own land for farming.Stable Food SupplyTwo improvements in stable food1. Irrigation2. Plow – made of wood & pull by oxen.Ancient SumerThe first citiesIrrigation Levees- An embankment or walls raised to prevent a river from overflowing.They also used canals and paths.

Tigris and Euphrates was unreliable and often flooded or resulted in droughts."The Land Between Two Rivers"Mesopotamia was the dawn of civilization. It was between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.TechnologyThe most important inventions were the wheel and the use of arches in their architecture.City-StatesSocial StructureKings PriestsLand ownersGovernmentofficialsMerchants & Crafts peopleFarmers & FishermanSlavesStatus is the level of importance a person has in society.The wheel lead to developments like the Chariot which were wheeled vehicles pulled by horses.GovernmentSumerian kings ruled over city-states. The kings enforced laws and collected taxes. They also were in charge of building temples and irrigation systems. One of the most important jobs of the king was to lead their armies.Hammurabi's CodeHamarabi's code was the first written laws.

The Mesopotamians believed that the laws came from the gods and many of the punishments were brutal and many ended in death.Writing The Sumerians created the first written language called cuneiform.They has over 2,000symbols.Developed this writing from earlier forms of writing called pictographsGilgameshThe first story written, and was about a king in search of immortality. That takes you on a quest with him until his downfall.

ArtsThey were advancing in creative expression through painting, architecture and music.Music

Musicians played instruments at templeceremonies such asthe lyre and drums. They also sang.

ReligionThey were polytheistic. In Sumer, religious beliefs influenced their entire lives. They tried pleasing their Gods in everything they did. They had many ceremonies dedicated to their Gods as well as sacrifices for them.Many monuments and statues were in honor of their Gods. Such as the ziggurats.